Hong Kong booksellers reappear, offer 'confession' on Chinese TV

Four of the five Hong Kong booksellers who went missing in October appeared on Chinese television confirming for the first time they'd been detained for "illegal book trading" in mainland China.

The five booksellers — including a British and Swedish national — had been linked to the same Hong Kong publisher and bookstore that specialised in gossipy books on the private lives and power struggles of China's Communist Party leaders.

The disappearances have prompted fears that mainland Chinese authorities may be using shadowy tactics that erode the "one country, two systems" formula under which Hong Kong has been governed since its return to China from British rule in 1997.

Four of the men, Gui Minhai, Lui Por, Cheung Chi-ping and Lam Wing-kee, gave details of their alleged offences to Phoenix Television on Sunday night.

"I have deeply reflected on what I have done and very much regret the illegal book trading I have carried out with Gui Minhai," said Lui Por in the Phoenix TV report.

In a four-minute report that involved exclusive interviews with the four, they confessed to selling "unauthorized" books in China via an online platform and evading customs inspections to deliver some 4000 books to 380 customers since October 2014.

Gui said he'd altered and obscured the covers of the Hong Kong-printed books with nylon bags to "evade" customs security checks and was singled out by the others as the mastermind. The group had also opened a bank account in China to make payments.

Gui had previously confessed on Chinese state television to a fatal drink-driving incident over a decade ago, after going missing in Thailand late last year.

International outcry

The TV report also detailed how Lui, Cheung and Lee had been arrested by Chinese authorities in Shenzhen and Dongguan, two cities in southern China close to Hong Kong, in October and then called upon to testify in the case.

"I know that Gui Minhai's books are fabricated. They were downloaded from the Internet, and were pieced together from magazines," said Lam. "They have generated lots of rumours in society and brought a bad influence ... I deeply acknowledge my mistakes and am willing to be penalized," Lam added.

The only bookseller not to appear in the report was Lee Bo, a British passport holder, who Britain said had been "involuntarily removed" to China from Hong Kong in late December, constituting a "serious breach" of the one country, two systems formula.

A number of governments have expressed concern regarding the disappearances, which some diplomats fear were abductions by Chinese agents in Hong Kong and Thailand.

China's Foreign Ministry, however, has said its law enforcement officials would never do anything illegal, especially not overseas, and called on foreign governments not to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei acknowledged the television report in a daily briefing, saying the men had "already admitted to their actions", without elaborating. The Phoenix television report said Lam, Lui and Cheung might be allowed to return to Hong Kong this week, citing unspecified sources. Gui, however, was expected to remain in detention.

A Swedish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told Reuters by telephone that an envoy had visited Gui on Wednesday and that his condition is "very good," but gave no further details. Britain has not yet been granted consular access to Lee despite formal requests to China, a spokesperson for the British consulate in Hong Kong told Reuters.

A Phoenix Television spokeswoman said it was granted access to the men after making "numerous requests to the relevant authorities" but declined to give further details on where, when or under what conditions the interviews were conducted.

Economist predicts crash landing for SAA's Myeni

Economist predicts crash landing for SAA's Myeni

This comes amid reports that Myeni, who is a close friend of President Jacob Zuma, shares a seemingly frosty relationship with Gordhan.

However, SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali told Fin24 that a meeting is scheduled to take place soon between the two parties.

"We have no reason to be concerned in terms of the state of the relations between SAA and National Treasury or the minister of finance," he said.

A merger on the cards

Gordhan announced in his 2016 Budget Speech that he, together with Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown, agreed to explore the possible merger of SAA and SA Express, under a strengthened board.

Since December when he was reappointed to Treasury, Gordhan had his eyes set on SAA. Shortly after taking on the role, he promised to stabilise the embattled airline, adding that discussions with Myeni was one of his first orders of business.

As the finance mininster, Gordhan has the power to appoint and remove board members since executive authority over SAA was transferred to the Treasury in December 2014. These powers are outlined in the SAA Act, Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Companies Act.

Myeni has extremely close ties with Zuma and many believe he fired Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister over his resistance to a proposed Airbus swap deal.

Now Gordhan is apparently determined to remove Myeni from the airline's board, reported the Sunday Times, adding that he allegedly informed Zuma about his intentions.

According to a source, Zuma ignored Gordhan, forcing him to repeat his intentions. "This time the president simply responded that he had heard him. He never said yes or no, or asked why," reported the Sunday newspaper.

'Opportunistic and malicious'

Tlali told Fin24 three meetings took place between SAA and Gordhan since he took over as finance minister.

"Since his reappointment to this portfolio as the minister of finance, SAA's board of directors interacted with Minister Gordhan on at least three occasions and on two occasions through direct meetings."

Tlali said Myeni was present in two meetings and on one occasion the chairperson was in a telephonic conversation with the minister.

He said people suggesting there is a rift are "opportunistic, malicious and simply misleading everybody" who are concerned about the relations between National Treasury, the minister and SAA.

"I can indicate to you that there is a meeting that is scheduled to take place soon, but I do not have the date on hand," Tlali said.

"We continue to have a solid and professional relationship based on mutual respect between ourselves and the finance ministry. Suggestions that there are no interaction or the relationship is not healthy are simply misleading".

Gordhan will boot out Myeni

Roodt told Fin24 that although SAA is a politically sensitive issue, he thinks Gordhan will get rid of Myeni.

"I have a suspicion that Pravin Gordhan is going to force his will through and in the process Dudu Myeni will lose her job, which is a good thing. I think he is going to get what he wants and that is to merge SAA with SA Express."

However, he said that a merger won't make much of a difference despite the benefits that may come with it.

"SAA has been a disastrous institution for a very long time and SA Express is a tiny airline, so from a financial point of view it won't make much of a difference, but it is certainly a step in the right direction," said Roodt.

He recommended that the government privatise SAA, but he indicated that Gordhan already alluded in his Budget Speech of bringing in a minority equity partner.

"I think what they are going to do is see if they can get a minority private sector shareholder and it will make sense if it is an international airline so that they can make use of the opportunity as a springboard to offer services in Africa," said Roodt.

The Treasury was not available for comment.

Fukushima former executives charged with negligence

Related Stories

• Fukushima nuclear plant operator kept meltdown quiet for 2 months
• Fukushima nuclear disaster linked to 1st confirmed cancer case

Three former Japanese utility executives were formally charged Monday with negligence in the Fukushima nuclear disaster, becoming the first officials from the company to face a criminal trial.

Five court-appointed lawyers on Monday indicted Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric power Co. at the time of the crisis, and two other TEPCO executives, according to the lawyers' offices. The three men, charged with professional negligence, were not taken into custody.

The indictment follows a decision in July by an 11-member judicial committee to send the three men to a criminal court after prosecutors dropped the case twice, saying they could not obtain sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against them.

In Japan, a court-appointed judicial committee has the final say about criminal complaints filed to a prosecutors' office that are then dropped.

• Fukushima nuclear plant operator kept meltdown quiet for 2 months
• Fukushima nuclear disaster linked to 1st confirmed cancer case

Proving criminal responsibility for failing to prevent the Fukushima meltdowns may be difficult, but many people including residents of the area affected by the disaster say they hope any trial will reveal information about the disaster and TEPCO's role that has not been disclosed by the utility.

"I believe truths about the accident that we are not told of yet will be revealed in court, and that a fair ruling will be handed down to the defendants for their responsibility," said Ruiko Muto, head of a group of more than 5,000 people from Fukushima and other parts of Japan that filed the criminal complaint four years ago.

Three reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant suffered meltdowns after being damaged by a massive March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The accident released large amounts of radiation that forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

Allegations of failure to take precautions

The indictment said Katsumata, 75, along with Sakae Muto, 65, and Ichiro Takekuro, 69, who were vice president and technical adviser, respectively — failed to foresee and take precautionary steps for the tsunami, resulting in the deaths of 44 hospitalized elderly people during the evacuation period and injuries to 13 soldiers who responded to the emergency, Kyodo News service said.

The judicial committee said in July that the three men were aware by 2009 of the risk of a massive tsunami to the Fukushima plant. It said they should be charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury during the accident and its aftermath. TEPCO and government officials say no one died as a direct result of radiation released by the accident.

Reports from government and parliamentary investigations of the accident have said a lack of a safety culture in TEPCO and weak risk management, including an underestimation of a tsunami threat, led to the disaster. They said TEPCO ignored tsunami safety measures amid a collusion with then-regulators and lax oversight.

TEPCO declined to comment Monday.

The utility has said it could have been more proactive on safety measures, but that a tsunami of the magnitude that crippled the plant could not have been anticipated.

While struggling with the decades-long cleanup of the wrecked Fukushima plant, TEPCO is hoping to restart two nuclear reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in northern Japan.

The disaster resulted in Japan taking all of its nuclear power reactors offline for checks. Of the country's 43 workable reactors, four have been put back online since last year, while the others are still offline for repairs or safety checks.

ss Sun, sand and sit-ups: London's coolest fitness boutiques are taking their classes to Ibiza and the Bahamas

TheSun, sand and sit-ups: 

The capit's coolest workout hubs are taking their classes on tour, sahael Sigee Irrays Rac

Salute the sun: London yoga collective House of Voga is taking its classes to Ibiza

We’ve all powered through the first two months of the year with die-hard new fitness regimes, clean eating and no booze so that we’re ready to shed the layers and show off the hard work as soon as the clocks go forward. Unless of course, we haven’t done this at all. What will really kick-start a lifestyle change is a fitness retreat, a reset button for mind and body. London’s best trainers are ready to sweep you from your spinning class in Soho to sun salutations by the sea.

Ibiza has gone from being the island to dance the summer away on to the hottest spot for honing your yoga bod. Cult Madonna-influenced yoga collective House of Voga is taking the party to the party island with a week-long retreat of sunrise and sunset yoga classes promising self-discovery and balance. The evening class will feature guest DJs staying true to the clubbing spirit, but instead of downing tequila and dancing into the night there are massages and a nutritious menu from holistic therapists A Couple of Healers (May 29 to June 5, prices start from £800, vogalondon.co.uk).

READ MORE

5 must-try Scandinavian fitness trends

For a truly luxe option, and taking self-care to new heights, a Silver Linings Retreat to the Bahamas should cure all city stresses. The private island of Kamalame Bay is home to this “holistic wellbeing experience” created by ex-Royal Ballet dancer Chrissy Sundt. It hosts twice-daily, ballet-inspired fitness classes from London’s barrecore, a paleo diet from barreNOURISH and Radiance Cleanse and gear from Sweaty Betty (May 13-20, prices from £4,775,silverlingingsretreat.com). 

The unstoppable Frame is to open a new studio in Victoria but it’s going further afield this summer with a yoga retreat in Faralya, Turkey. Each day will feature different themed yoga classes and evening restorative sessions. When you’re not busy aligning yin and yang there are mountain walks, snorkelling and relaxing by the pool t

Sun, sand and sit-ups: London's coolest fitness boutiques are taking their classes to Ibiza and the BahamasionThe IrratThe Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymousionality of Alcoholics Anonymousality of Alcoholics Anonymous

At Least 30 People Killed In Somalia Bombings

At Least 30 People Killed In Somalia Bombings

An al Shabaab suicide bomber targets a busy road junction while a second bomb explodes at a nearby restaurant.

09:12, UK,Monday 29 February 2016

The scene in Baidoa, where at least 30 people were killed by two explosions

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Google+
• Share by email

At least 30 people have been killed in a double bomb attack by the militant Islamist group al Shabaab in the Somalian city of Baidoa.

Abdurashid Abdulahi, governor of the Bay region, said all of those killed were civilians and that 61 people had also been injured, 15 of them seriously.

The bombs were detonated on Sunday afternoon at a busy junction and a nearby restaurant in the city, which is around 150 miles from the country's capital, Mogadishu.

Police said a suicide car bomb blew up at the junction but it was not clear whether the second bomb was planted or carried by a suicide bomber.

People and soldiers search the rubble of a building ruined in the bombing

Authorities said the restaurant and junction had been very busy at the time of the explosions.

Hospital officials said many of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

Video: 2015: The Threat From Al Shabaab

Witness Ismail Olad told Reuters the two locations had been full of civilians and security forces, adding: "I heard a huge crash at the busy junction and, as I ran, I heard another blast at a restaurant ahead of me.

"The whole place was covered by smoke."

Al Shabaab said it carried out the attacks, the latest in a number of suicide bombings aimed at toppling Somalia's western-backed government.

The group's ultimate aim is to bring the African nation under its strict version of Islamic rule.

Reuters quoted al Shabaab's military operations spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab as saying they had been targeting "government officials and forces".

He added that there was a police station nearby.

Last Friday, a car bomb near a hotel and park in Mogadishu killed 14 people and three militants from al Shabaab.

Mum suffers horrific facial injuries after woman bites her lip at party

Mum suffers horrific facial injuries after wom

Ollie McAteer for Metro.co.ukSunday 28 Feb 2016 7:46 pm

100

WARNING: Graphic content

Kate was attacked at a friend’s party (Picture: Mercury)

These are the shocking injuries inflicted on a mum-of-two who was bitten in the face by another woman at a friend’s party.

Support worker Kate Nield was at a friend’s house in Southport on Thursday night when she suffered the vicious attack which left her with a big chunk ripped out of her cheek.

The mum-of-two is currently in Whiston Hospital, Liverpool, which specialises in plastic surgery.

Doctors spent an hour performing a skin graft, taking skin from the back of Kate’s arm and putting it onto the damaged part of her face.

Kate said: ‘We were all at my friend’s house having drinks. The more drinks this other girl had, the more angry she got. Eventually she was asked to leave.

‘But she came back into the house, and she attacked me. She was like a raving lunatic. She bit me and took a big chunk out of my face. There was blood everywhere.

MORE: Scottish nurse who recovered from Ebola twice discharged from hospital

Kate underwent reconstructive surgery on her lip with skin from her arm (Picture: Mercury)

(Picture: Mercury)

‘My friend who was with me managed to get her off me.’

The attack was reported to the police and officers visited her in hospital.

Merseyside Police has yet to make an arrest but an investigation is under way.

Kate’s friend, Keely Fletcher, has set up a GoFundMe page to help support Kate after her ordeal.

On the page, Keely says: ‘My friend was brutally attacked by another girl.

She had her cheek bitten off for no apparent reason. She is now undergoing major plastic surgery.

‘Nobody deserves to go through this.’

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/28/mum-suffers-horrific-facial-injuries-after-woman-bites-her-lip-at-party-5723097/#ixzz41YDLR43lan bites her lip at party

Police to use drones for locating kite flyers in Rawalpindi

             

RAWALPINDI: The police has decided to take kite flying on a serious and for the purpose police will use latest drones which will indicate the exact location of the kite flyer. Aerial firing will also be monitored.

The kite flyers in Rawalpindi will not be able to escape police as wherever the kite will be seen flying, the drone will get there and spot it after which police would be able to arrest the kite flyer.

600 kite flyers have been detained up till now and a demonstration has also been carried out in Press Club by the police.

The police also said that aerial firing will also be monitored through these drones apart from kite flying.

 

Pakistan, India to clash in Asia Cup today

DHAKA (Web table / AFP) - Pakistan and Republic of India can renew cricket’s most bitter contention these days (Saturday) once a biennial gap once they play within the Asia Cup, a contest for regional dominance that is additionally a final rehearsal for the planet T20.

The biennial 12-day tournament, that is being control in East Pakistan for the second time during a row, began on Wednesday night once the hosts were defeated by Republic of India at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla bowl -- the venue for all the matches.

But most eyes are on Saturday’s glamour tie once Republic of India and Pakistan desire the sector along for the primary time since the last World T20 in 2014.

India-Pakistan showdowns sometimes draw many innumerable tv viewers, creating it the largest box workplace attraction within the sport.

But diplomatic tensions have meant that the 2 groups haven't compete any bilateral series for over 3 years and their contention is thus restricted to multi-national tournaments.

Pakistan, furious that Republic of India has rebuffed perennial pleas to play a bilateral series at a neutral venue, are needing to cause associate degree upset against their large neighbour.

Earlier on Thrusday, the govt. of Pakistan gave permission to the cricket team to play next month’s World Twenty20 in Republic of India once fears they could withdraw owing to alleged security threats.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan earlier this month raised doubts over the team’s participation, speech communication there have been specific threats from Hindu activists United Nations agency forced the cancellation of a gathering between cricket officers from each countries in Mumbai last October.

Rightwing Hindu activists additionally forced the cancellation of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali’s concerts in Mumbai and Pune last year and noncontinuous a book launch event by former government minister Khurshid Kasuri.

But the PCB declared Th it had received the inexperienced light-weight once seeking further security measures.

"I am happy that our government has given its consent for our team to go to Republic of India," aforesaid Khan.

"As a requirement of care, we've got asked independent agency to place in situ special arrangements for the Pakistan cricket team whereas in Republic of India.

"We also will expect visa facilitation and alternative arrangements for the Pakistani fans want to go to Republic of India for the independent agency World T20."

The sixth edition of the independent agency (International Cricket Council) World Twenty20 are control in Republic of India from March eight to April three.

Pakistan can play its 1st match against a qualifier team in metropolis on March sixteen, before usurping arch-rivals Republic of India during a high-profile game in Dharamsala 3 days later.

They additionally play New Seeland (March 22) and Australia (March 25) within the 1st spherical.

Tags: Pakistan, India, Pakistan, India, Sport, live cricket, Republic of India cricket, pak Republic of India match, t twenty asia cup,

Related News

 Threat to ideology: Supporting Indian jock will land you in Jail in Pakistan

 delivery shame to home:  Would PCB take back seat on Assad Rauf?

 Melting ice: will cricket diplomacy bring a thaw in Indo-Pak ties?

 might a cricket series rekindle hopes for peace between Republic of India and Pakistan?

 Resumed again: will Republic of India and Pakistan get out of their troubled past?

 Heart of Asia conference: will it win the guts of Asians by bring peace within the region?

 A welcome thaw: area unit India-Pakistan center for world's proxy war?

 Koh-i-Noor’s repossession: Is Pakistan during a position to demand back precious stone?

 Nawaz-Modi meeting expected in Washington

 A series in limbo: Indian refusal and dialogue recommencement    

 Modi's visit: A hoodwink or real plan to normalize the ties?

 Diplomatic squabble: Is Republic of India taking part in realpolitiks in Afghanistan?

 Modi-Imran meeting: Would saneness prevail between hostile neighbors

 Positive overtures: Would India-Pakistan bury the hatchet for once and all?

 South Asian military doctrine: is very large defence defrayal liable for folks plight?

‘Amy’ A Fitting Tribute To Winehouse

‘Amy’ A Fitting Tribute To WinehouseAUSTIN, Texas, U.S.A. – Director Asif Kapadia’s powerful documentary Amy begins with home-video footage of a 14-year-old Amy Winehouse singing “Happy Birthday” to her childhood relief Lauren Gilbert. 

Sadly, we tend to already shrewdness the story ends.

The reason behind death was later disclosed to be accidental alcohol poisoning, and for Winehouse’s ample fans across the globe it felt nearly like losing a member of the family.

As tributes flooded in, fans paid their respects within the solely method they knew however – through music. By the top of the week, a best eight of Winehouse’s singles appeared at the same time within the kingdom charts.

Review-2Blabel2

But what's extraordinary concerning Kapadia’s documentary isn't that it tells U.S. what we tend to already knew, but tragic. what's extraordinary is that the footage that we've ne'er seen before, or might have seen at the time however will solely [*fr1] keep in mind.

Winehouse lived her life before of the camera, not solely as a result of she became world notable, however as a result of her and her friends documented everything, long before anyone else had any interest in seeing it. Such is that the personal nature of those films – fears, romances, fights – that look feels nearly voyeuristical.

As with bush, his last documentary – a wonderful life history of the Brazilian sport driver Ayrton bush – Kapadia makes scant use of interviews with talking heads. They don’t seem on screen, solely as audio on prime of pictures of Winehouse herself taken from personal videos, performances and interviews.

The similarities between bush and Winehouse square measure outstanding. They came from radically totally different places, and lived radically totally different lives, however were driven by a similar burning love for his or her several crafts that shortly, and excitingly, created them the simplest within the world at what they did. each were vastly attractive, beloved by millions and were tragically curtail in their prime.

Hauntingly, each gave the impression to predict their own deaths however were weak to try to to something concerning it. Winehouse was convinced she would die young. many of us near her throughout the peak of her career even say that she was exercised by deep worry that she would find yourself change of integrity the “27 Club,” a cognomen given to a gaggle of artists like vocalist, guitarist and Kurt Cobain United Nations agency all died age twenty seven. That cluster currently includes Winehouse herself.

Her husband poet Fielder-Civil, the inspiration for the song “Back to Black,” was a harmful influence United Nations agency feared that if Winehouse kicked her drug habit he would lose his own provide. Despite this, and powerful criticism of the paparazzi, the film is honest enough to admit that Winehouse was complicit in her own addiction.When it involves divvying up blame, Kapadia pulls no punches. Amy’s father Mitch Winehouse was a relentless barrier to her obtaining the assistance she urgently required as a result of he refused to just accept that something was wrong – as documented by the road “if my pop thinks I’m fine” from her most notable song “Rehab.”

One of the foremost painful moments within the film is once a clean Winehouse, shortly when winning a Grammy Award, turns to a disciple to confess that success is “so boring while not medication.” a lot of absolutely, her alternative addiction was to music and he or she was ne'er happier than once she was singing and writing.

What shines through isn't simply her raw natural talent, however conjointly her determined individual streak. As a realistic North London someone lady United Nations agency was keen about jazz, Winehouse accomplished there weren’t songs being written that mirrored her own life, so embarked on to put in writing them herself.

In associate degree era of ready-made pop, it's outstanding however personal Amy’s 2 albums were. She took jazz, a generally rarified and moralist genre, and created it gritty, real and concerning herself. Her work could be a fitting sound recording to her chronicle, and Kapadia’s film a fitting tribute.

Asia Cup’s biggest match would be played between Pakistan India today

DHAKA:  The biggest match of Asia Cup would be played between two traditional rivals Pakistan and India today in Mirpur stadium. The first match of the event would be played at 6.30 pm.

As per details, according to new format of Asia Cup, both the teams would play new format cricket. Both the teams had conducted hard training session.

The Pakistani cricket team participated in the training session under the leadership of head coach Waqar Younas and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, respectively.

During the training, bowling, batting and fielding were specially focused while on the other hand Indian team started its practice with wet balls.

According to video shared by BCCI, the Indian fielding coach Rama Crishna Siri has been shown while dipping ball in water bucket and throwing it to players standing at various directions.

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan cricket team captain said after the training session that Indian team was in form and bating line of Pakistani cricket team was also strong.

He added that attention was being paid to T20 World Cup for the time being not on the retirement.

He said that Pakistan extend first their hands with India and politics and sports should be kept separate. Unusual significance was given to Pak- India match by the spectators therefore spectators would be dishearted if politics was introduced in sports.

Waqar Younus, head coach of national cricket team said that Asia Cup would be benefitted with the participation of Pakistan Super League, however worries would be faced due to injury of players.

He added that Asia Cup and World T20 are two important tournaments and expressed the hope that Green Shirts would be succeeded if every player of the team showed PSL-like performance.

Waqar Younus further said that he does not care about his job but it is his desire that Pakistan secure victory.

Six T20 Internationals have so far been played between the two countries. India won four while Pakistan won one match and one T20I tied. (Online)